Palestinians wary of U.S. elections, but hopeful
By Lawahez Jabari, NBC News Producer
RAMALLAH, West Bank - With the U.S. election now just a few days away, Palestinians here have been fascinated by the race, not only because the system of primaries, conventions, and debates is so different compared to the way leaders are chosen here, but also because of the prospect that Americans could actually elect a person of color as their leader.
It's always been a given that the unflinching support for Israel by the U.S. helps give Israel leverage in its negotiations with the Palestinian Authority and that statements of support from the White House have always been the best indicator of that commitment. But, that's also why this year's election has been closely watched by the Palestinian media and by Palestinians in the streets of the West Bank, Gaza, and east Jerusalem.
All of the people I spoke with in the West Bank are tantalized by the idea of a Barack Obama presidency. They see it not only as an historic moment for the U.S., but also as the possible breakthrough they've been waiting for in their own struggle for a state.
At the same time though, enthusiasm for an Obama presidency is tempered by the sobering facts on the ground.
Political stalemate
Palestinians remain skeptical as ever about any future progress in relations with Israel for a number of reasons. Despite a pledge by President Bush to produce a peace framework leading to the creation of a Palestinian state by the end of his term, it's now widely accepted that this will be more unfinished business for the next administration to tackle.
After more than 20 trips by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to this region, there has still been no tangible progress. In fact, according to the Palestinians, Israel has built more settlements, checkpoints, and roadblocks during this period, in defiance of U.S. requests to halt construction.
The reasons for the lack of a final plan reflect the weakness of leaders on both sides.
There was always a question mark over how far outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert could lead Israeli negotiations while facing allegations of corruption.
And now Olmert is powerless – he is acting in a caretaker capacity since resigning in September over a corruption scandal – and Israel is now distracted by the attempts of the new leader of the Kadima Party, Prime Minister-designate Tzipi Livni, to form a new government.
At the same time, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been negotiating against a backdrop of not only a divided Palestinian society, but a divided Fatah movement, and he remains haunted by the end of his term, due in January 2009. Hamas, which controls Gaza, has already said it will appoint its own head of the Palestinian Authority when Abbas' term ends.
And statements by both Sen. John McCain and Obama during their campaigns vowing their support of Israel have confirmed Palestinians worst suspicions that the next administration will not be any different than the Bush White House.
‘They are all the same’
At the end of July, Barak Obama visited Israel and promised his "unshakeable commitment to the security" of the country, but he also visited the West Bank city of Ramallah and assured Abbas of his support for a two-state resolution as a way to eventually resolve the region’s problems.
McCain also visited Israel during a weeklong trip through the Middle East and Europe in March and stood by the country’s efforts to defend itself. He also praised Abbas commitment to trying to reach a peace deal, but did not meet with the Palestinians.
But, comments made by Obama were actually the most surprising for Palestinians, especially when he announced his support for a Jerusalem fully controlled by Israel – one of the main issues of dispute for a future Palestinian state.
"The U.S. presidential election will do nothing to settle the Mideast problems; the comprehensive peace – that will never happen," said Jamal Hamdan, a 74-year-old who lives in Ramallah. "They are all the same. They all support Israel even more than the previous administration that is about to leave. The Zionist control the government of the United States."
‘It’s a challenge’
But, still, many Palestinians believe the 2008 election is critical and change the usual order of things.
"I think this election is going to be very, very important, because there are so many things hanging up over this election, between the two candidates. The gap is so wide and there are so many issues," said Fays Eid. "It affects so many people and so many lives, not just in the United States, but all over the world."
Many Palestinians have put their hope in Obama and believe he is actually different from other politicians.
"I wish Obama could win," said Mohammad Jarasy, a 56-year-old supermarket owner. "He is going to help the economy, he's going to help the peace process for everybody in the Middle East."
Others see the elections as an opportunity for a major turning point. "In fact it's a challenge," said Musa Ahmad, a 50-year-old Palestinian consultant for a German company in Dubai. "It looks like this is the first time in the U.S.A to elect somebody with a different color, different opinion, and I believe that he's believing in freedom and he's believing in peace and I think he will support the Palestinians."
While the Bush administration is still pursuing diplomatic efforts, Rice acknowledged at a recent speech in Washington before a Palestinian investment forum that time was running out to produce a peace plan, as proposed at the Annapolis conference in November 2007.
"I will leave no stone unturned to see if we can finally resolve this conflict," she said. But Palestinians here are now looking to the next administration to deliver on that promise.
Lawahez Jabari is an NBC News Producer who is based out of NBC's Tel Aviv bureau.
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